Handlebar grip, in particular for a bicycle

ABSTRACT

Handlebar grip for a bicycle or similar vehicle, formed by a main rigid body of tubular shape supporting, fixed thereon, a covering of moderately soft material, in particular in gel form. Two terminal elements are provided at the ends of the grip, each of the elements being provided with an annular protection rim intended to line a corresponding end edge of the covering, and with an elastically deformable tubular lug to be inserted between an end section of the handlebar and the main body, compressed between the handlebar and the main body so as to ensure gripping engagement as a result of friction thereon.

FIELD OF APPLICATION

The present invention relates to a grip intended to be traditionallymounted on the handlebars of a bicycle or on other vehicles so as toensure a secure gripping action by cyclists or other users.

BACKGROUND ART

As part of the continuous development of improvements made to all theconstructional details which compose bicycles, the grip which forms thesubject of the present invention arises in response to the need tosimplify the manufacturing process and from requirements to improvetheir qualitative and operational characteristics.

The grips on the market nowadays generally differ from each other interms of their particular anatomical shape, the materials used or themanufacturing process by means of which they are made.

As is known, said grips are traditionally formed by a substantiallycylindrical body which is made of plastic material, is internally hollowand can be inserted onto the ends of handlebars generally formed bysuitably shaped metal tubes.

Advantageously, grooves of varying shape may be formed on the outersurface of the grips, said grooves being intended to assist ventilationof the hand gripping thereon, preventing possible problems arising fromexcessive sweating.

The grip may also have a particular anatomical form able to allow anoptimum grip by the cyclist and/or assist the natural blood circulationof the hand and/or produce a massaging effect on the palm.

In particular, said form may have a convexity arranged in the zone wherethe cyclist's hand rests, said convexity being capable of absorbing thevibrations transmitted from the ground. The shape and position of theabovementioned convexity are designed according to the position assumedby the cyclist on the bicycle, said position also depending, as isknown, to a significant degree on the specific type of bicycle used. Infact, for example, general purpose bicycles, known as ATB tracking,presuppose that the cyclist assumes a sitting position able to determinea bust angle on the bicycle of about 60°, while mountain bikes (MTBracing) and city touring bicycles require a bust angle of about 30° and90°, respectively.

In more recently manufactured grips, the anatomical form with anti-sweatgrooves and the abovementioned convexity is obtained using relativelysoft materials which have high shock-absorbency characteristics, such asrubber, soft plastic, polyurethane or, more advantageously, material ingel form.

Moreover, the same grips made of, or solely lined with, relatively softmaterials are more easily subject to wear. The greatest deteriorationoccurs, as is known, at the ends and especially at the outermost end,which is easily able to come into contact with or scrape against otherobjects and which is often used to support the bicycle.

With the aim of limiting this drawback, grips provided with a protectiveplug mounted on the outer end of the handlebar have been recentlydeveloped as, for example, described and illustrated in U.S. Pat. No.6,112,618. According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 of this patent,the gel grip is provided with an internal cavity intended to receive thehandlebar tube. Alternatively, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, thegel part is designed in the form of a sleeve fixed externally on a main,rigid or semi-rigid, tubular-shaped body. In both cases, the plug isprovided with a central projection intended to be inserted by force intothe cavity of the handlebar so as to retain the grip in a fixedposition.

In practice, however, both the embodiments shown in this patent do notallow a stable and easy engagement of the grip on the handlebar. Itshould be noted in particular that in the case where the grip is formedcompletely by material in gel form, it can be functionally difficult tofit the grip on the handlebar, given the significant friction which thegel material exerts on the metallic surface of the handlebar and whichmust be overcome during said insertion operation.

On the other hand, in the case where a rigid main body covered with agel sleeve is envisaged, it is necessary to envisage a perfectcalibration of the internal diameter of the main body and/or theexternal diameter of the handlebar so that the correct interferencebetween said non-deformable elements results in a stable engagement ofthe grip on the handlebar. It is nonetheless clear that, in practice, itis not always possible to guarantee such machining precision and it istherefore convenient to assign the task of retaining the grip on thehandlebar to the abovementioned central projection. In this case,however, the retaining force may be unsatisfactory given the smallsurface area available for retaining the grip. Moreover, projections ofgreater length would once again involve difficulties when inserting thegrip on the handlebar.

Generally speaking, it can also be said that the grips manufactured todate are capable of exerting a stable fixing action only on handlebarswith predetermined dimensions and adapt poorly to being mounted, witheven minimum tolerances, on handlebars which diverge, even slightly,from said dimensions.

However, given that the handlebars available on the market, especiallyif derived from various manufacturing sources, may differ appreciably interms of the size of their diameter, the result is that the grips arenot generally capable of guaranteeing a stable fixing action on allhandlebars.

It should also be remembered that the handlebars nowadays envisage asingle protective element arranged on the outer end of the grip, whilethe inner end of said grip, which is intended to be inserted on thehandlebar, is not protected in any way, with the result that said innerend is easily susceptible to rapid deterioration, especially where it ismade of material which is soft and/or in gel form.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

A primary object of the present invention is therefore that ofeliminating the drawbacks of the abovementioned known art by providing agrip for bicycles which guarantees a stable fixing action on handlebarsof differing cross-sections within a sufficiently wide tolerance range.

A further object of the present invention is that of designing a gripwhich is particularly resistant in terms of wear phenomena and at thesame time sufficiently soft to dampen the vibrations transmitted fromthe ground.

Another particular object of the present invention is that of designinga grip which is constructionally simple and operationally completelyreliable.

A further object of the present invention is that of providing a gripwhich can be easily arranged on the handlebars of any bicycle.

These objects, together with others, are all achieved by the handlebargrip, in particular for a bicycle or the like, which forms the subjectof the present invention and comprises a main body of substantiallytubular shape with a longitudinal axis, defining a cylindrical cavityable to receive the end section of a handlebar, and a covering of softmaterial which is externally fixed to the main body. According to theinvention, the grip is characterized in that it comprises at least oneterminal element provided with an annular protection rim intended toline a corresponding end of the grip, and a tubular lug which extendscoaxially inside the main body between the end section of the handlebarand the main body itself, the tubular lug being intended to perform agripping engagement on the end section of the handlebar and on the mainbody through the effect of frictional forces resulting from an elasticdeformation thereof due to compression between the handlebar and themain body.

Thanks to the present invention, grips of extremely high quality can bemounted easily and with a good guarantee as to gripping on handlebars ofvarious dimensions within reasonable limits.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the invention will be more clearlyunderstood from the detailed description of a preferred, but notexclusive embodiment of a handlebar grip according to the invention,illustrated by way of a non-limiting example with the assistance of theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows an overall side view of an embodiment of the grip whichforms the subject of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows schematically a top view of the grip according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional side view of the grip according to FIG. 1along the line III-III of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows an exploded side view, in lateral cross-section, of afurther embodiment of a grip according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EXAMPLE OF EMBODIMENT

With reference to the said drawings, the grip forming the subject of thepresent invention is labelled in its entirety 1.

Hereinafter, reference will always be made, for simplicity ofexplanation, to a grip for bicycles, it being understood that said gripmay be used on all types of wheeled vehicles, such as scooters, mopeds,motorcycles, motorbikes or for other types of vehicles using grips.

According to the embodiment indicated in the attached drawings, the grip1 is substantially formed by a main body 2 made of rigid or semi-rigidmaterial and having a substantially tubular shape with a longitudinalaxis A. Said axis defines internally thereof a cylindrical cavity 3which, as will be better explained hereinafter, can receive the endsection 4 of a handlebar 5.

A covering 6 of relatively soft material consisting, for example, ofelastomeric material in gel form is arranged above the main body 2. Thecovering 6 has a profile P which is suitably shaped so as to allow anoptimum grip by the cyclist and delimited at its ends by a first edge10′ and second edge 10. Advantageously, grooves 7 may also be envisagedso as to embrace hand ventilation.

According to, the invention, the grip 1 also comprises terminal elements8, 8′ provided with annular protection rim 9, 9′, which are intended tocover a corresponding end edge 10, 10′ of the covering 6, and a tubularlug 11, 11′, which extends coaxially inside the main body 2 between theend section 4 of the handlebar 5 and the main body 2.

In operation, the tubular lug 11 receives internally thereof the endsection 4 of the handlebar 5, remaining compressed between saidhandlebar and the main body 2. In this situation, the tubular lug 11deforms through compression and consequently engages with friction onthe end section 4 and on the main body 2.

In other words, the tubular lug 11 is compressed against thesubstantially non-deformable, rigid, main body 2 by the end section 4 ofthe handlebar 5 which penetrates inside it and which is generally formedby a tubular shaped member made of metal and therefore alsosubstantially rigid and non-deformable. Therefore, the problems ofcalibration which may derive from the requirement to design a slightinterference able to allow mating between rigid and non-deformablematerials such as the main body 2 and the handlebar 5 are completelyovercome by the provision of a tubular lug 11 of elastically deformablematerial arranged between said elements 2 and 5. Moreover, for reasonsof constructional simplicity and manufacturing efficiency, it isinadvisable to use specific engagement means or to machine the surfacesof the handlebar 5 and the grip 1 in order to achieve the mating. Thegrip 1 must, in fact, be able to fit onto the handlebar 5 simply byexerting a force of predetermined pressure, assigning the task ofensuring the stability of fixing performed to the frictional forcesalone.

According to the present invention, the tubular lug 11 made ofdeformable material allows the engagement of the grip 1 on the handlebar5 to be optimised within a wide tolerance range in the manufacture ofthe components.

For this purpose, the terminal element 8 is preferably made of adeformable elastomeric material having a hardness of between 50 and 80Shore. The covering 6 is in turn advantageously formed by a softmaterial in gel form capable of ensuring high levels of shock absorbanceof the vibrations transmitted from the ground to the cyclist.

It should also be noted that the annular protection rim 9 mainly has theobject of preventing wear of the covering 6, which, as is known, beingmade preferably of soft material, would otherwise be subject to rapiddeterioration.

Owing to said rim 9, it is, for example, possible to envisage restingthe bicycle against a wall or other surface without damaging or ruiningthe grip 1.

According to the constructional example shown in the attached drawings,the grip 1 comprises two separate terminal elements 8, 8′, of which afirst element 8 is associated with the inner end 20 of the grip 1, and asecond element 8′ is associated with an outer end 20′ of the grip 1. Thetubular lug 11 of the first terminal element 8 is shaped so as to beable to fit on the end section 4 of the handlebar 5, while the tubularlug 11′ of the second terminal element 8′ is shaped so as to close thefree end of the handlebar 5.

More precisely, the tubular lug 11′ of the first terminal element 8defines a through-cavity 12 which has openings 13 and 14 and is intendedto grip on the end section 4 of the handlebar 5 by means of its innersurface 15.

The tubular lug 11 of the second terminal element 8′, on the other hand,defines a closed cavity 16 which is delimited at one end by means of aclosing portion 17 and is provided at the other end with an opening 18able to allow the forced insertion of the handlebar 5 gripping on itsinner surface 19.

Advantageously, a (transparent) plate 50 which displays, for example, anadvertising logo, may be mounted on the outer surface 17′ of the closingportion, preferably by means of bonding.

Said outer surface 17′ is provided with grooves 51 which extend fromsaid opening 18 to beyond the plate 50 so as to allow air to escape.

The internal diameter d of the tubular lugs 11, 11′ of the terminalelements 8, 8′ must have slightly smaller dimensions than the externaldiameter D of the handlebar 5 so as to ensure a good gripping action ofthe grip 1 on the handlebar 5 when said handlebar is force-fitted insidesaid lugs. Therefore, as observed above, the elastic deformability ofthe material which forms the tubular lugs 11, 11′ allows operations tobe carried out with tolerances which are fairly wide and such that theydo not penalise the manufacturing process or fitting operations.

The first and second terminal elements 8′, 8 are provided respectivelywith a first and a second annular seat 21′, 21 which are capable ofmating with the corresponding first and second end edges 10′, 10 of thecovering 6, said end edges being for this purpose suitably shaped so asto match the respective seats 21′, 21.

Therefore, according to the preferred configuration shown in theattached drawings, the grip 1 is kept gripped on the end section 4 ofthe handlebar 5 coaxially with the main body 2 owing to the combined andbalanced action exerted by the frictional forces produced by the twotubular lugs 11, 11′ mounted on the ends of the grip 1.

Advantageously, in order to assist mounting of the grip 1 on the endsection 4 of the handlebar 5, the closing portion 17 of the secondterminal element 8 is provided with one or more holes 22 so as to allowescaping of air, which otherwise would be compressed inside the grip 1during insertion of the latter on the handlebar 5.

Moreover, ribs 24 are arranged on the outer surfaces 23, 23′ of thetubular lugs 11, 11′ of each terminal element 8, 8′, said ribs 24 beingintended to be inserted in corresponding grooves 25 formed on the mainbody 2. The function of said ribs/grooves is on the one hand to preventthe rotation of the main body 2 and the covering 6 around the terminalelements 8, 8′, and on the other to allow a perfect positioning of saidterminal elements 8, 8′ inside the main body 2. This also allows theannular seats 21, 21′ to be mounted correctly on the corresponding edges10, 10′.

It should be noted that the covering 6 is rigidly fixed on the outersurface of the main body 2 and this may be achieved by means of bondingor advantageously by mould-forming the covering 6 directly over the mainbody 2.

The invention thus conceived therefore achieves the predefined objects.

Obviously, said invention may also assume, in its practical embodiment,forms and configurations which differ from the embodiment describedabove, without thereby departing from the present scope of protection.

Moreover, all the details may be replaced by technically equivalentelements, and the dimensions, forms and materials used can be of anytype according to requirements.

1. A handlebar grip, comprising: a main body of substantially tubularshape with a longitudinal axis, defining a cylindrical cavity adapted toreceive the end section of a handlebar, said end section having asubstantially uniform external diameter; a covering of soft materialwhich is fixed externally to said main body; at least one terminalelement adapted to cover a corresponding end of said grip; said at leastone terminal element having an elastically deformable tubular lugextending coaxially internally of said main body between the end sectionof said handlebar and the main body itself so as to firmly engage andexert a frictional force on both said main body and said handlebar; saidtubular lug being a continuous annular wall of substantially constant oruniform cross section over a whole circular extent thereof and having aninternal diameter that is slightly smaller than the external diameter ofthe handlebar end section such that, upon axial force-fitting of saidterminal element onto the end section of said handlebar, said tubularlug elastically deforms to firmly grip said handlebar sufficiently tostationarily maintain the position of said tubular lug on saidhandlebar; and wherein said main body has an inner surface with asubstantially constant diameter, said inner surface being radiallyspaced from and disposed out of engagement with the outer surface of thehandlebar end section to provide a free tubular interspace between saidhandlebar and said main body.
 2. Grip according to claim 1, furthercomprising at least one rib arranged on the tubular lug of said terminalelement and at least one groove formed on the main body and shaped so asto receive said rib.
 3. Grip according to claim 1, wherein said coveringis formed by a material in gel form.
 4. Grip according to claim 1,wherein said terminal element is made of a deformable elastomericmaterial having a hardness of between 50 and 80 shore.
 5. Grip accordingto claim 1, wherein said covering of elastomeric material is molded onsaid main body.
 6. Grip according to claim 1, wherein said terminalelement is one of a first terminal element and a second terminal elementand wherein said tubular lug is one of a first tubular lug and a secondtubular lug, said first terminal element being associated with an outerend of said grip, said first tubular element having said first tubularlug shaped so as to close a free end of said end section of thehandlebar, said second terminal element being separate from the firstand associated with an inner end of said grip, said second terminalelement having said second tubular lug shaped so as to fit over said endsection of the handlebar.
 7. Grip according to claim 6, wherein thetubular lug of said second terminal element defines a through-cavity inwhich the end section of said handlebar can be force-fitter withgripping engagement of an inner surface of the tubular lug of saidsecond terminal element.
 8. Grip according to claim 6, wherein saidsecond terminal element is provided with a first annular protection rimmating with a first end edge of said covering, said first end edge beingformed on the inner end of said grip and substantially shaped so as tomatch the protection rim.
 9. Grip according to claim 2, wherein saidfirst terminal element is provided with a first annular seat able tomate with an end edge of said covering, said end edge being formed onthe outer end of said grip and substantially shaped so as to match aprotection rim formed on said first terminal element.
 10. Grip accordingto claim 6, wherein the grip is forced on the end section of saidhandlebar so as to exert frictional forces produced by elasticdeformation of the tubular lugs.
 11. Grip according to claim 6, whereinsaid first tubular lug and said second tubular lug keep said main bodycoaxially fixed on the end section of said handlebar.
 12. Grip accordingto claim 6, wherein the tubular lug of said first terminal elementdefines a closed cavity delimited by a closing portion and by an openingin which the end section of said handlebar is force-fitted with grippingengagement between the outer surface of the handlebar and an innersurface of the tubular lug of said first terminal element.
 13. Gripaccording to claim 12, wherein said closing portion is provided with atleast one hole so as to evacuate air when said first terminal element isinserted on the end section of said handlebar.